Super Eagles Star Alex Iwobi Reveals How He Landed Everton Deal

Super Eagles Star Alex Iwobi Reveals How He Landed Everton Deal

Alex Iwobi has revealed more details about his transfer deadline day move to Everton last summer.

The Nigeria international said he had to cut short a family holiday, jump off a ship and rush back to England during a ‘crazy’ last few hours, just in time to sign a five-year contract for the Toffees.

And the deal was officially announced after the Premier League’s summer transfer deadline had already passed.

The Arsenal academy product, who made his first-team debut in 2015, earned 22 Premier League starts last season, scoring three goals and adding six assists.

But Arsenal snapped Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe from Lille on a club-record transfer fee, a move that threatened to reduce Iwobi’s chances in the Arsenal team.

Still, the 24-year-old midfielder, who had out-performed Pepe at that summer’s AFCON, believed he’d fight for his place and severally stated that had no intention of leaving the Emirates.

But the Gunners thought otherwise and sanctioned a £35 million move late in the transfer season while the Super Eagles star was still on holiday.

Speaking about his dramatic late move to Everton, Iwobi told Soccer Bible in an Instagram live, as reported by ECHO Sport: “Everything was last minute, but I don’t regret the decision. I am happy to be here [at Everton].

“I was in Dubai on a family holiday, and I’d been there for four or five days before deadline day. I got the call saying Everton were interested. It was literally mad for the last two or three days. I wasn’t able to (hold a medical).

“They were able to get the medicals off Arsenal who was able to hand them in. It was literally a crazy holiday.

“I was on a boat and had to rush back to sign Everything on time. It was crazy. There was one part of me thinking: ‘This might not go through’.”

Iwobi has so far this campaign featured 18 times in the league for Everton.
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